WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act,” (H.R. 7) sponsored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.). This bill would permanently prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortions in Obamacare health plans starting the next plan year. This bill also protects Americans of conscience by requiring the full disclosure of abortion coverage in Obamacare plans so people can make informed decisions about their healthcare plans right now.

Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins responded with the following comments:

“The 115th Congress has started on strong footing by passing this vital legislation ensuring that no American taxpayer dollars are used to pay for elective abortions. Following an election in which voters chose a pro-life president and a pro-life Congress, our nation is moving toward a new era where all human beings, born and unborn, are protected under the law. Abortion is not healthcare, and should not be funded since we know government funding of abortion increases it. Passage of this bill is a victory not just for taxpayers but women, and their unborn children.

“Today’s vote reflects the reality that Americans are becoming more pro-life as science has increased our understanding of the humanity of unborn children. This bill restores the status quo against government funding or subsidizing abortion, a position supported by 61 percent of Americans.

“For over 40 years, the Hyde Amendment and other pro-life provisions have been renewed annually to prevent federal funds from being used to pay for abortions or healthcare plans which include abortion coverage. For over 40 years, Republicans and Democrats have come together to ensure that despite our differences, we should at least be able to agree that the government should not subsidize abortion. Obamacare violates this longstanding consensus.

“The Senate must take up this bill to ensure that government no longer spends people’s hard earned money on insurance with elective abortion. We must pray and work to end abortion in America until every child is welcomed into the world and protected under our laws. Ending taxpayer funding of abortion is a good first step on this journey,” concluded Perkins.

Congressman King stated, “My legislation will require all physicians, before conducting an abortion, to detect the heartbeat of the unborn child. If a heartbeat is detected, the baby is protected.”

The architect of the Heartbeat Bill is Janet Porter, President of Faith2Action. She recently wrote: “The heartbeat is a universal indicator of life–it is time we recognize it across the board..”

“Even the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals recognized that ‘the point at which an unborn child possesses a detectable heartbeat’ is a ‘more consistent and certain marker than viability’-where the court currently allows legal protection,” explained Porter. “The federal Heartbeat Bill will move the line of legal protection much closer to conception–where it belongs.”

King added, “I believe our most important responsibility that God has bestowed upon us is to protect innocent human life, and I will continue to dedicate my life to that responsibility.”

The Family Heritage Alliance believes it is time we stop discriminating against the youngest members of the human family–babies whose heartbeats can be heard.

HR 490 will forever shift the national debate from regulating abortion to ending it and we would encourage our South Dakota Representative Kristi Noem’s support of HR 490.